The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) welcomes the State Government's commitment to invest $40 million into accelerating critical minerals exploration in Western Australia.
Making the announcement at the Resources Technology Showcase Conference this morning, WA Premier Mark McGowan said the Sustainable Geoscience Investments package would address the ever-increasing demand for critical minerals used in key technologies including electric vehicles, energy storage and solar panels.
CME Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Tomkinson said that the McGowan Government's investment in WA's critical minerals exploration will help support the essential role that WA resources sector is playing in the both the State and the globe's zero emissions future.
"Western Australia's resources sector provides the foundation for the innovation and development of the future technologies that aim to make our lives and our workplaces safer, smarter and cleaner.
"There is enormous opportunity for Western Australia to have a world leading, sustainable, value adding critical mineral sector.
"As highlighted in the pre-budget submission of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, incentivising the development of the critical and battery materials industry is essential to ensure we are in the best possible position to continue to deliver these commodities to the world's renewable technology manufacturers.
"Our State is always stronger when industry and government work constructively together. We welcome the McGowan Government for its commitment to further advancing the WA's critical minerals industry, ensuring we continue to be a leading supplier of these commodities that are essential for a net zero future."
Western Australia hosts an abundance of critical minerals that are vital for the global transition to net zero emissions by 2050, including producing 57 per cent of the world's lithium, along with battery-grade chemical products such as nickel sulfate. There is more in the pipeline, including rare earths processing capacity.
